The Town of Blackfalds has finished up the details on their budget proposal for 2019. The most common question for families is what will be impacting them directly and a tax increase is always on that radar.

Mayor Richard Poole says taxes will be increasing 1.5% which is approximately $31 dollars per family, and he says that is a reasonable number considering it is much lower than the Consumer Price Index.

“We are going to be expecting a modest tax increase of 1.5 percent which will generate approximately $150,000 of new revenue which will allow us to continue our excellent high level, which we do now.”

He says the town will be able to continue providing an excellent level of service in the next year as well as maintaining progress on the projects in their ten year Capital Plan.

The town has recently seen an increase in population which Poole says will probably continue to rise over the next few years but is already passing the 10,000 mark.

They are hoping to adopt the proposed operating capital budget formally by mid-December.

“I think that the town of Blackfalds has really worked hard to understand the economics of our current economy and to keep it within a very reasonable amount,” says Poole.

They are encouraging the public to check out the Christmas Trade Show at the Abbey Centre this weekend to give feedback on their proposal.

The Christmas Trade Show is November 17-18 2019 from 10 am to 4 pm.

More details on the budget can be found on their website.